Which school should I choose?(Purdue, MSU, Miami U)

College Search & Selection
1

I am having a tough time deciding on which school would be best to go to to for undergrad. I have been accepted already to these 3:

Purdue:
-Top choice
-Has a really diverse and friendly campus that I’ve been looking for
-Good education
-4 hours from home
-Gave me a decent financial aid package but I still need $27,000 to attend

Michigan State University:
-This would be the smartest choice
-Parents want me to go here
-Decent education
-Was accepted for Spring 2017 and not Fall 2016. I’m assuming because I applied late and when I can only be considered for Fall 2016 if I accept the Spring 2017 admission.
-Did not receive financial aid yet but cost is significantly less because it is my state school
-Only an hour from home
-Would have to go to community college for a semester…

Miami University:
-3 hours from home
-Offered me a $3,500 renewable scholarship
-Gave a decent financial aid package but would still need $26,000 to attend
-Not very interested but seems like a smart choice in terms of money
-Decent education

2

You are in a tight corner. Academically, I view Miami and Purdue on the same plain - above MSU. But it depends on your field. Engineering - Purdue can rival the best. Liberal arts, Miami is best of these three. Have you visited?

Btw, MSU is not problematic in that you can get a great education there. It is a major research university with some extraordinary departments. Their nuclear physics group is close to the top. But to get out of Michigan and all that college-gy stuff, the above comment is my response.

3

I have not visited Purdue or Miami but I have visited MSU but I plan to visit Purdue on April 4th. I plan to study Biology and be a part of the Pre-med program.

4

You mention in another thread that your parents won’t pay any of your college costs. You can’t afford these schools.

What is your EFC?

Your parents say that they want you to go to MSU, that strongly suggests that they will not cosing undergrad loans. Besides, if you want to be premed, you should NOT be borrowing much for undergrad.

5

If the parents won’t cosign then the student CAN’T afford those OOS schools.

6

Who will co-sign if your parents are refusing?

7

My mom says I can go to any school I want to she just said that it would be silly of me to choose to go to Purdue. I just asked her and she says she will cosign as long as I do what I am supposed to do(go to class, work, get good grades, etc.)

8

Let’s just say I wouldn’t want to be $100K in debt after college.

9

It’s odd how you only marked “good education” for your top school. MSU & Miami are great schools. I think you’re showing favoritism.

Michigan State sounds like the smartest option.